Services

We can issue invitations for your stay in Russia and then register you on your arrival.

For your Russian Visa application you will need to be issued an invitation. This can be obtained directly from your booking agent or from us. We simply need your passport details and travel dates.

We will email your invitations to you within 24 hours of your request. We charge Rur 700 per person.

On your arrival in the hotel we will register for you at no extra charge – it takes just a few minutes.

Registration must be done within three working days of you entering Russia or there may be complications and additional charges to register you.

Please note: if the country is listed as a country of migration risk, the hotel is able to issue the visa invitations only for higher rates and only by pre-payment. The process takes at least 3 working days.

We would be delighted to organize transfers to and from the airport to the hotel.

You will normally be met by a driver with the meeting card of the hotel.

We are on hand to provide you with help on planning your stay. Whether you need a taxi to take you to a meeting or need us to book a restaurant or theatre, let us help you. We will even help you plan your itinerary whilst you in St Petersburg. Let us know of your interests in advance and we will arrange your trip. Theatres, concerts and even Museums can be sold out weeks or even months in advance during the peak season (May – September).

The national Russian currency is the Rouble (RUB). One Rouble is subdivided into 100 kopecks. At the present time, there is the following money in circulation: coins of 1, 5, 10, 50 kopecks; coins of 1, 2, 5, 10 Roubles; notes of 5, 10, 50, 100, 500, 1000 Roubles. In Russia, payment for all goods and services is to be made by national currency, or by credit cards.

Advice on changing money

Most ATM or cash machines dispense Euros, Dollars and Roubles. They provide the best way of getting Roubles (if you can remember your pin number) They use a rate not far above the inter-bank rate.

Generally you are best off using Roubles for day to day expenses to avoid poor exchange rates. Credit cards are as widely accepted as in Europe and so the amount of cash you need is not excessive.

Personal safety

Please keep your wits about you at all times. Cameras, bags and rucksacks are easy pickings so keep them close to you when walking down the street or in a restaurant or crowded cafe.

Medical Treatment

If you need urgently medical assistance, you are supposed to dial ‘03’ phone number (the equivalent of 999 or 112 in Europe). Any medical institution must help you or call for the ambulance with a medical team.

When delivered to a hospital, you will be required to show your medical insurance policy.

However we recommend that you call a Western practice or private medical service that will ensure you get a higher level of care. They will speak English, usually have Western doctors and can arrange repatriation if required.

American Medical Clinic (78 Moyki Reki nab., tel. 740-2090)

Euromed Clinic (60 Suvorovskiy pr., tel. 327-0301)

MEDEM International Clinic & Hospital (6 Marata ul., tel. 336-3333)

Social behaviour

Russians don’t have a reputation of being particularly smiley. That is because many of them haven’t had a lot to smile about. Life is still tough. Smiling is mostly not a sign of politeness in Russia, but something special that people keep for their mates.

However many Russians are amazingly warm, helpful and friendly despite the toughness of their lives. We hope you will come across many of these people.